Market Lake Wildlife Management Area

Directions: I-15 Exit #135 at Roberts; E on CR 627 to the junction with CR 2880 E; turn N (L) and drive through Roberts; 0.5 mi take R fork and continue N on N 2850 E; stop at Sandy Marsh parking lot for a bird list; continue N on N 2850 E (Old Hwy 91) and follow to Main Marsh and Triangle Marsh; at the N end of Main Marsh are two shelterbelts that are good for songbirds; for more birding, head N on 2900 E from HQ and in 0.4 mile pull into the lot on the L (W) and park; walk through gate in the NE corner of the parking lot, cross the canal, and follow main dike to W and N to view open water and mudflats.

Description: Market Lake consists of 1,700 acres of bulrush/cattail marshes and wetland meadows, surrounded by sagebrush/grassland desert. One hundred bird species have been seen in one day on the WMA and this site is a hot-spot for waterbirds. It is a spring staging area for 50,000-150,000 ducks (particularly Northern Pintail), 400 Canada Geese, 40,000 Snow Geese, 1,000 Tundra Swans, and 150 shorebirds (Red-necked Phalarope, Black-bellied and American Golden-Plovers). During the summer, colonially breeding species that can be found here include Eared, Western, and Clark’s Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, White-faced Ibis, Franklin’s and Ring-billed Gulls, and Forster’s Tern. Also present are Sora, Virginia Rail, American Bittern, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Willet. There is a Peregrine Falcon hack/nesting tower on the WMA, and nesting Northern Harrier, Greater Sage-Grouse, Long-billed Curlew, and Sage Sparrow. In the fall, approximately 50 American White Pelican stage here.